Rivers Academy Trust CEO Kate Brunt announces she is stepping down

Kate Brunt founded The Rivers CofE Academy Trust back in 2014, which combined St Clement's CofE Primary School, Cutnall Green CofE Primary School and Heronswood Primary School.

Fast forward nine years, The Rivers CofE Academy Trust now has 16 schools under its umbrella, spanning Worcestershire with a few locations in Birmingham. 

READ MORE: 'Gutted -  I can’t do the next date': Readers react to balloon festival postponement

Mrs Brunt said it was always her dream to collaborate more within the education sector and get the best results for her schools.

She said: "Back then, I did not really know what a CEO was in education, all I saw was executive headteachers.

"For me, it is all about the schools.

"People used to say to me how big do you want to get, and I used to say just three schools.

The Rivers CofE Academy Trust at the Worcestershire Education Awards (Image: NQ)

"It has been a privilege and an honour to serve as CEO to so many children, and I hope the Rivers Trust continues to be a happy place and education is continued to be a place where we work together."

Mrs Brunt said she has no regrets during her nine years at the trust and will now be rebalancing her life.

She will be looking to do something different with her life, however, she said she is still determining what that will be.

READ MORE: Police called to assault near village primary school

She said: "I am not pleased to leave and it is going to be a big situation for me to leave.

"It will be with great sadness, but as one door closes, another one opens.

"It will be a very sad time for me, but I get to spend more time with my family, so there are a lot of mixed emotions."

Mrs Brunt will officially leave her role at the end of September and has many farewell celebrations planned to mark her leaving the trust.

The next CEO of Rivers Trust has been selected, and parents will receive a letter about who this will be in due course.